Container for a fluid product, and dispenser using such a container

ABSTRACT

A fluid reservoir including a bottom and a duct that defines an opening, a sealing ball being engaged in the duct in such a manner as to close the opening hermetically, the ball being movable by an external thrust member in such a manner as to cause the ball to fall by gravity to the bottom of the reservoir so that the opening is thus unblocked. The duct is connected to a dip tube that extends into the proximity of the bottom of the reservoir, the duct presenting a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the dip tube, the ball being in leaktight engagement in the duct before being pushed into the dip tube in which it falls freely to the bottom of the reservoir.

The present invention relates to a fluid reservoir including a bottomand an opening. The reservoir is for associating with a dispensermember, such as a pump or a valve, so as to constitute a fluiddispenser. In addition, the present invention also relates to a fluiddispenser including a reservoir of the invention. Advantageous fields ofapplication of the present invention are the fields of perfumery,cosmetics, and pharmacy.

In the prior art, fluid reservoirs already exist, each having an openingthat is closed or sealed by means of a film that is mounted in leaktightmanner on the opening of the reservoir. When the reservoir is thenassociated with a dispenser member, the film is perforated in such amanner as to create fluid communication between the reservoir and thedispenser member. That type of reservoir may be in the form of acartridge or refill that may be replaced by another once empty. It maythus be said to be a replaceable or interchangeable reservoir.

In the prior art, document U.S. 2006/0054633 is also known, whichdescribes a reservoir have an opening that is provided with an inletvalve formed by a ball that is urged against a seat by a spring. Theball is pushed out of contact with its seat by a pin that is formed by aspecific pump for associating with the reservoir. Sealing between thereservoir and the pump is formed by a tube that comes into engagement atthe outside of the valve seat that forms a sealing sleeve. When the pumpis removed from the reservoir, the ball is urged against its seat by thespring, such that the reservoir is once again sealed. The reservoir inthat document presents a structure that is complex as a result of usinga ball valve and a sealing sleeve for co-operating with the tube of thepump. In addition, the pump also presents a structure that is complex,given that it must be provided with a pin that makes it possible to pushthe ball of the valve, and with a particular tube that is able toco-operate with the sleeve of the reservoir.

Documents FR 358354 and FR 358564 describe bottles each having a neck inwhich a ball is engaged in hermetic manner. By means of a pusher in theform of a tube, the ball may be pushed so as to cause it to fall bygravity to the bottom of the bottle. Such bottles are not adapted formounting a pump or a valve so as to constitute a fluid dispenser.

An object of the present invention is to remedy the above-mentioneddrawbacks of the prior art by defining a removable reservoir of simplestructure that is initially sealed by a sealing ball and that has anopening suitable for being unblocked merely by putting into place adispenser member, such as a pump of standard design. Another object ofthe present invention is to use a single thrust member both for movingthe sealing ball away from the opening of the reservoir and forproviding sealing between the reservoir and the dispenser member.

To do this, the present invention proposes a fluid reservoir including abottom and a duct that defines an opening, a sealing ball being engagedin the duct in such a manner as to close the opening hermetically, theball being movable by an external thrust member in such a manner as tocause the ball to fall by gravity to the bottom of the reservoir so thatthe opening is thus unblocked;

the fluid reservoir being characterized in that the duct is connected toa dip tube that extends into the proximity of the bottom of thereservoir, the duct presenting a diameter that is smaller than thediameter of the dip tube, the ball being in leaktight engagement in theduct before being pushed into the dip tube in which it falls freely tothe bottom of the reservoir.

The dip tube is thus incorporated with the reservoir, such that the pumpor valve that is mounted thereon does not need to have a dip tube. It isalso easier to dislodge the ball from the duct with the inlet of thepump or valve, which is hard, rather than with a dip tube, which is veryoften flexible. The sealing ball is not a valve ball, and is used onlyfor initially closing or sealing the opening of the reservoir. As soonas it is pushed by the external thrust member, it falls freely into thereservoir and no longer performs any function, except to inform the userthat the dispenser member has been connected to the reservoir correctly.To do this, naturally it is necessary for the reservoir to betransparent or at least translucent.

In an advantageous first embodiment, the ball is held captive by the diptube. Advantageously, the duct and the dip tube are formed as a singlepiece by an insert. The duct may be considered as a local narrowing orconstriction of the dip tube, situated at the opening of the reservoir.Once the ball has been disengaged from the narrowing or constriction, itfalls freely inside the dip tube, given that the inside diameter of thedip tube is greater than the diameter of the ball. By holding the ballcaptive in the dip tube, it is prevented from moving freely inside thereservoir. This may improve the appearance of the reservoir.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, theopening is formed by a duct that includes a projecting internal sealingbead, the sealing ball being in leaktight engagement in the duct, belowthe bead. Not only is the ball prevented from being removed from theduct because of the bead, but the position of the ball inside the ductis also fixed. The sealing bead comes into bearing contact with anelement of the dispenser member, e.g. the external thrust element. In avariant that is not preferred, the ball may be arranged above the bead.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, theopening is formed by a duct that includes a projecting internal sealingbead, the ball being in leaktight engagement with the projectinginternal sealing bead. The ball may be arranged below or above the bead,or even at the bead. The contact between the ball and the bead forms aleaktight annular contact that may be in addition to the contact betweenthe ball and the duct.

In a practical embodiment, the reservoir comprises a reservoir bodyforming the bottom, and an insert forming the duct and the opening, theinsert also forming a collar that extends radially outwards from theduct, the collar coming into engagement with the reservoir body. Theball may thus be pre-mounted in the duct of the insert before fittingand fastening the insert on the reservoir body. The insert may befastened on the reservoir body by any means, e.g. leaktightsnap-fastening, leaktight force-fitting, heat-sealing, adhesive, etc.Naturally, the reservoir may also be made as a single piece.

The present invention also defines a fluid dispenser comprising a pusherand a dispenser member, such as a pump, that is mounted in removablemanner on a reservoir as defined above, the dispenser member including athrust member that is suitable for being inserted into the opening ofthe reservoir, so as to push the ball and cause it to fall to the bottomof the reservoir. Thus, the combination of the dispenser member and thereservoir makes it possible to disengage the ball from the opening ofthe reservoir, thereby establishing communication between the reservoirand the dispenser member.

In an embodiment of the invention, the thrust member is formed by aninlet tube that communicates upstream with a chamber of the dispensermember, the inlet tube coming into leaktight engagement in the openingof the reservoir, so as to establish communication between the reservoirand the chamber. Thus, the inlet tube performs two functions, namely thefunction of pushing the ball out of the duct, and the function ofproviding sealing between the reservoir and the dispenser member.Sealing may be improved by the presence of a sealing bead inside theduct.

In another embodiment, the thrust member is formed by a dip tube thatcommunicates upstream with a chamber of the dispenser member, the diptube being connected to an inlet tube that comes into leaktightengagement in the opening of the reservoir, thereby establishingcommunication between the reservoir and the chamber. Thus, the dip tubepushes the ball out of the duct, and the inlet tube provides sealingwith the duct. Provision may even be made for the dip tube to be madeintegrally with the inlet tube, such that the inlet tube may beconsidered as forming an integral part of the dip tube. In thisconfiguration, it can be considered that the dip tube also performs twofunctions, namely the function of pushing the ball, and the function ofproviding sealing between the reservoir and the dispenser member.

In an advantageous embodiment, the dispenser includes a casing thatsurrounds the pusher, the dispenser member, and a portion of thereservoir, such that the casing is movable relative to the reservoir bymoving the pusher relative to the dispenser member.

The spirit of the invention resides in sealing a reservoir, preferably aremovable reservoir, very simply by means of a ball that is disengagedfrom the opening of the reservoir by a thrust element of a dispensermember (e.g. a pump), and that falls by gravity into the reservoir. Anadvantageous characteristic is that the thrust element also performs asealing function for sealing between the reservoir and the dispensermember. The presence of a dip tube incorporated with the reservoir makesit possible to use a dispenser member without a dip tube, and to holdthe ball captive by the dip tube once disengaged from the opening. Thereservoir of the invention may be used with any standard or conventionalpump, given that they all include an inlet tube that connects with apump or valve chamber through an inlet valve.

The invention is described more fully below with reference to theaccompanying drawings which show two embodiments of the invention by wayof non-limiting example.

In the figures:

FIG. 1 is a vertical section view through a fluid dispenser including areservoir, in a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of the FIG. 1 reservoir in its initial state beforebeing associated with the FIG. 1 dispenser member;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to the view in FIG. 1 showing a reservoir in asecond embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a view similar to the view in FIG. 2 for the FIG. 3 reservoirin its initial state.

Reference is made firstly to FIGS. 1 and 2 for a general description ofthe various component elements of a fluid dispenser of the invention.The dispenser comprises three essential component elements, namely afluid reservoir R, a dispenser member 4, which in this embodiment is apump, that is mounted on the fluid reservoir R, and a pusher 5 that ismounted on the dispenser member 4. Optionally, the dispenser alsoincludes a casing 6 that envelops or surrounds the pusher 5, thedispenser member 4, and at least a portion of the reservoir R, as can beseen in FIG. 1.

The dispenser member 4 is a pump including a pump chamber 40 that isdefined between an inlet valve 41 and an outlet valve 43. In order toreduce the volume of the pump chamber 40, a piston 42 is provided thatslides in leaktight manner in a cylinder. The dispenser member 4 alsoincludes an actuator rod 44 through which the fluid that is put underpressure in the pump chamber 40 is driven. At its bottom end, below theinlet valve 41, the dispenser member 4 forms an inlet tube 45 in which adip tube 46 is engaged. In a variant, the dip tube 46 may be madeintegrally with the inlet tube 45, such that the inlet tube 45 formspart of the dip tube. In FIG. 1, it should be observed that the diameterof the dip tube 46 is smaller than the diameter of the inlet tube 45,given that the dip tube 46 is engaged inside the inlet tube 45. Even foran integral embodiment, it is preferable for the dip tube 46 to presenta diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the inlet tube 45. Thisdesign is entirely conventional for a pump in the fields of perfumery,cosmetics, and pharmacy.

The pusher 5 is engaged on the free end of the actuator rod 44 of thedispenser member 4. The pusher includes a dispenser orifice 51 thatadvantageously makes it possible to dispense the fluid in the form ofspray. By pressing on the pusher 5, the actuator rod 44 is moved,driving the piston 42 with it, in such a manner as to reduce the workingvolume of the pump chamber 40. The inlet valve 41 is thus closed, andthe outlet valve 43 opens when the pressure inside the pump chamber 40reaches a predetermined threshold. From that moment on, the fluid underpressure in the chamber 40 can flow through the actuator rod 44 so as toreach the dispenser orifice 51. As soon as the pressure on the pusher 5is relaxed, the actuator rod 44 returns into its rest position under theaction of the return spring. The pump chamber 40 thus increases involume, the outlet valve 42 closes, and the inlet valve opens so as tosuck the fluid contained in the reservoir up through the dip tube 46 andthe open inlet valve 41. This operation is entirely conventional for apump associated with a pusher in the fields of cosmetics, perfumery, andpharmacy.

The casing 6, which is an optional element, surrounds the pusher 5 withthe exception of the dispenser orifice 51, the dispenser member 4, and aportion of the reservoir R, as can be seen in FIG. 1. Thus, in order toactuate the dispenser, it is necessary to move the reservoir R relativeto the casing 6. In this way, the pusher 5 is moved relative to thedispenser member 4, or, more precisely, the pusher 5 pushes down theactuator rod 44 and the piston 42 in such a manner as to dispense a doseof fluid through the orifice 51. The casing 6 may extend around thereservoir R into the proximity of the bottom 12, if so desired.Conversely, the casing 6 need extend only into the proximity of the topend of the reservoir R, if so desired.

The fluid reservoir R may be made as a single piece, but preferably itis made as two distinct pieces that are fitted one on the other, namelya reservoir body 1 and an insert 2. The body 1 comprises a side wall 11of any shape that is closed, at its bottom end, by a bottom 12, and thatdefines, at its top end, a neck 13. The body 1 may be made out of anyappropriate material, e.g. glass, plastics material, metal, etc. Theinsert 2 includes a duct 21 that defines an opening 20 that puts theinside of the body 1 into communication with the outside. The duct 21 issubstantially cylindrical but may internally define one or moreprojecting sealing beads 24 that locally reduce the flow section of theduct 21. At its top end, the duct 21 forms an inlet bevel 23 that makesit easier to access the duct 21. The insert 2 also includes a collar 22that extends radially outwards from the duct 21. In the embodiment inFIGS. 1 and 2, the duct 21 extends downwards from the inner periphery ofthe collar 22. In a variant, the duct 21 may extend upwards from theinner periphery of the collar 22. The first function of the collar 22 isto assemble the insert 2 on the reservoir body 1. Assembly may beachieved using any technique, such as adhesive, heat-sealing,snap-fastening, or interfitting, for example. In FIGS. 1 and 2, thecollar 22 is heat-sealed or adhesively-bonded on the top edge of theneck 13 of the reservoir body 1.

In the invention, a sealing ball 3 is housed in leaktight manner insidethe duct 21, in such a manner as to close or seal the opening 20 of thereservoir. This implies that, at least locally, the inside diameter ofthe duct 21 is smaller than the diameter of the ball 3.

The ball is preferably made of a material that is more dense than thefluid: by way of example, it is possible to use a metal, glass, or aplastics material that is more dense than the fluid, so that the balldoes not float, but, on the contrary, sinks. When the duct 21 isprovided with an internal sealing bead 24, it is preferable for the ball3 to be received below the bead 24. Preferably, the ball 3 may come intocontact with the bead 24 in such a manner as to create an additionalsealing zone. The bead 24 also makes it possible to fix the position ofthe ball 3 inside the duct 21. Specifically, it suffices to engage theball 3 in the duct 21 via its bottom end, and to push it until it comesinto abutment against the bead 24. It is then clear that the ball 3 ispositioned correctly inside the duct 21. This initial sealing positionis shown in FIG. 2. Naturally, the reservoir R is already full of fluid,e.g. perfume, a lotion, a serum, a cream, etc. In a variant, it ispossible to envisage positioning the ball 3 above the bead 24,optionally in contact with said bead. Provision may also be made toposition the ball 3 at the bead 24, without the ball coming into contactwith the cylindrical portion of the duct 21.

The reservoir R may thus be manipulated without any risk of loss orleakage of fluid. The reservoir may be in the form of a cartridge or arefill that may be associated with the assembly constituted by thedispenser member 4, the pusher 5, and optionally the casing 6. To dothis, the user begins by inserting the free end of the dip tube 46 intothe opening 20 until it comes into contact with the ball 3. Then, theuser presses harder, in such a manner as to push the ball 3 out of theduct 21 by means of the dip tube 46. Once the ball has been disengagedfrom the duct 21, it falls by gravity into the reservoir, down to thebottom 12. Without any effort, the user may then insert the dip tube 46through the opening 20 of the duct 21 until the inlet tube 45 is engagedinside the duct 21. Once again, it suffices for the user to pressharder, so as to force-fit the inlet tube 45 inside the duct 21 until inthe final assembled position shown in FIG. 1. When the duct 21 isprovided with one or more projecting sealing beads, the inlet tube 45 isengaged with its free end beyond the bead(s) 24, such that the bead 24locally deforms the tube 45 over its entire periphery, so as to createbetter sealing. Naturally, this implies that the diameter of the inlettube 45 is slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the duct 21 orof the sealing bead(s) 24. The dip tube 46 thus extends into theproximity of the bottom 12, and the ball 3 is free to move inside thereservoir R. By making the reservoir body 1 with a material that isopaque, the ball 3 cannot be seen. Furthermore, by making the ball 3with a plastics material that is dense, it does not generate any noiseinside the reservoir body 1.

Reference is made below to FIGS. 3 and 4 in order to describe anadvantageous second embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 3, thedispenser is shown in part only, with the top portion of the dispensernot being shown. However, the dispenser member 4, the pusher 5, and theoptional casing 6 may be strictly identical to those of the firstembodiment in FIG. 1. Even the inlet tube 45 of the dispenser member 4may be identical. The same applies for the overall structure of thefluid reservoir R′ that also comprises a reservoir body 1′ and an insert2′. The reservoir body 1′ includes a bottom 12 and a neck 13. However,the neck 13 differs a little from the neck of the first embodiment inthat it includes a wide inlet section 14 and a snap-fastener groove 15.The insert 2′ also includes a duct 21 that may be provided internallywith a sealing bead 24. The insert 2′ also includes a collar 22 thatdiffers from the collar of the first embodiment in that it comprisesannular reinforcement 26 for coming into engagement with the widesection 14, and an annular sealing rib 27 for becoming housed in thegroove 15 of the neck 13. The duct 21 also forms an inlet bevel 23 thatmakes it easier to access the duct 21. The duct 21 extends downwards soas to form a dip tube 25 that extends into the proximity of the bottom12. It should be observed that the inside diameter of the duct 21 issmaller than the inside diameter of the dip tube 25.

In the sealed initial position shown in FIG. 4, a sealing ball 3 isreceived inside the duct 21 below the bead 24, as in the firstembodiment. The ball 3 may come into contact with the bead 24. Thereservoir R′ is thus completely sealed and full of fluid. It may bemanipulated by the user so as to associate it with the assemblyconstituted by the dispenser member 4, the pusher 5, and the optionalcasing 6. Thus, the user may insert the reservoir R′ into the casing 6in such a manner as to engage the inlet tube 45 of the dispenser member4 in the bevel of the duct 21. The user encounters a first difficultywhen the inlet tube 45 comes into engagement with the bead 24. Byincreasing the pressure, the user causes the inlet tube 45 to penetratebeyond the bead 24 so as to push the ball 3, which drops freely into thedip tube 25 down to the bottom 12, as shown in FIG. 3. Naturally, it isnecessary for the diameter of the ball 3 to the slightly greater thanthe inside diameter of the duct 21, and smaller than the inside diameterof the dip tube 25. Given that the dip tube 25 extends into theproximity of the bottom 12, the ball 3 remains held captive by the diptube 25, and cannot move freely inside the reservoir R′.

In this second embodiment, it should be observed that the inlet tube 45,which acts as an external thrust member, makes it possible not only todisengage the ball 3 from the duct 21, but also to provide sealingbetween the reservoir R′ and the dispenser member 4. To this end, inFIG. 3 it should be observed that the outside diameter of the inlet tube45 may be smaller than the inside diameter of the duct 21, but greaterthan the inside diameter of the sealing bead 24, so as to providelocalized sealing only at the bead 24. In the first embodiment in FIGS.1 and 2, the ball 3 is pushed by means of the dip tube 46, and sealingis provided by means of the inlet tube 45. However, the inlet tube 45may be considered as an integral part of the dip tube 46, or vice versa,such that the same thrust member performs both the functions of pushingthe ball and of providing sealing.

In both embodiments, the ball 3 serves only to initially close or sealthe opening 20 of the reservoir, and no longer performs any sealing orclosing function once the reservoir is connected to the dispensermember. Incorporating the dip tube 25 with the reservoir, as in thesecond embodiment, makes it possible to use a dispenser member 4 thatdoes not have a dip tube. A reservoir of the invention may be used as aremovable cartridge or refill that is replaceable or interchangeable.

1. A fluid reservoir including a bottom and a duct that defines anopening, a sealing ball being engaged in the duct in such a manner as toclose the opening hermetically, the ball being movable by an externalthrust member in such a manner as to cause the ball to fall by gravityto the bottom of the reservoir so that the opening is thus unblocked;the duct is connected to a dip tube that extends into the proximity ofthe bottom of the reservoir, the duct presenting a diameter that issmaller than the diameter of the dip tube, the ball being in leaktightengagement in the duct before being pushed into the dip tube in which itfalls freely to the bottom of the reservoir.
 2. A reservoir according toclaim 1, wherein the ball is held captive by the dip tube.
 3. Areservoir according to claim 1, wherein the duct and the dip tube areformed as a single piece by an insert.
 4. A reservoir according to claim1, wherein the opening is formed by a duct that includes a projectinginternal sealing bead, the sealing ball being in leaktight engagement inthe duct, below the bead.
 5. A reservoir according to claim 1, whereinthe opening is formed by a duct that includes a projecting internalsealing bead, the ball being in leaktight engagement with the projectinginternal sealing bead.
 6. A reservoir according to claim 1, comprising areservoir body forming the bottom, and an insert forming the duct andthe opening, the insert also forming a collar that extends radiallyoutwards from the duct, the collar coming into engagement with thereservoir body.
 7. A fluid dispenser comprising a pusher and a dispensermember, such as a pump, that is mounted in removable manner on areservoir according to claim 1, the dispenser member including a thrustmember that is suitable for being inserted into the opening of thereservoir, so as to push the ball and cause it to fall to the bottom ofthe reservoir.
 8. A dispenser according to claim 7, wherein the thrustmember is formed by an inlet tube that communicates upstream with achamber of the dispenser member, the inlet tube coming into leaktightengagement in the opening of the reservoir, so as to establishcommunication between the reservoir and the chamber.
 9. A dispenseraccording to claim 7, wherein the thrust member is formed by a dip tubethat communicates upstream with a chamber of the dispenser member, thedip tube being connected to an inlet tube that comes into leaktightengagement in the opening of the reservoir, thereby establishingcommunication between the reservoir and the chamber.
 10. A dispenseraccording to claim 7, including a casing that surrounds the pusher, thedispenser member, and a portion of the reservoir, such that the casingis movable relative to the reservoir by moving the pusher relative tothe dispenser member.